Budget 2024 #2

[LadyofRutshire]

Hi, this is the follow-up thread to the Budget 2024 anyone watching thread.

Around here (I’m near the planned East Anglia solar farm) there is talk of compulsory purchase orders, the farmers do not want to sell. They want to keep growing crops to feed our country.

East Anglia is prime arable land. You can’t grow wheat in a solar field.

The way that this is being reported by some of the media makes it sound like Carer's Allowance has gone up with the Budget. Just to be clear, it has not gone up. It remains at £81.90 per week for between 35 and 168 hours caring - that is £2.34 to 48p per hour. It will only go up In April together with other work age benefits by 1.7%, which is a whopping increase of £1.39, making it £83.29 a week - that is £2.37 to 49p per hour.

For those thinking 'whatever shall I spend my extra £1.39 on from April?', remember that for those unfortunately having to rely on Universal Credit, such as many of the 24/7 carers, every single penny of that very slightly increased Carer's Allowance will still be taken off. For those carers paying tax on their Carer's Allowance because they work part-time or receive an occupational pension, 20% of Carer's Allowance - £16.66 of it, taking it down to £66.63 a week or £1.90 to 39p per hour - will still be clawed back by the tax man. Carers receiving State Pension will still not receive a penny of the Carer's Allowance to which they should be entitled.

The poorly written Budget headlines in the media actually relate to an increase in the earnings limit only for those carers who are able to combine caring and paid work.
Carers UK welcomes Carers Allowance earnings threshold increase in Autumn Budget | Carers UK
'Carers in poverty
Support via Carer’s Allowance is vital for those who are unable to combine work and care, but it remains the lowest benefit of its kind at just £81.90 per week. Many are struggling with high living costs as a result of high levels of inflation. There are 1.2 million carers living in poverty across the UK who need urgent help. The Government should take urgent steps, including a full review of Carer’s Allowance and other social security benefits available to carers, to tackle the root causes of poverty.'

I read about a suicide just yesterday.

How have they allowed this to happen? You can't make enough money on 100 acres (bringing you up to the million mark). Agriculture will be destroyed.

Because they are not being bankrolled by farmers. Look at who their other donors are - unions, former hedge fund folk, and whatever lord alli does

Agree there is no need for land to be wasted on solar panels

solar and air source heat pumps should be forced on all new developments, including one off new builds.

I am in my mid 40s worked all my days and paid into state pension.

I can't see it ever happening but I was thinking what you have posted. Start means test state pension with younger generations.

I think a lot of things in the UK need brought up to date and refreshed for modern times and not for when they were set up.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/05/farmer-john-charlesworth-took-own-life-over-inherit/

I could only read the first little bit as it's behind a Pay wall.

That poor, poor man and his family. How utterly horrific 😢

That’s so terribly sad!

The inheritance tax on farms is a disgrace and goes to show RR, Starmer and the Labour Party really haven’t got a clue.

A bit of analysis and critical thinking re future impacts on not just farmers but also farm land, the environment and our own food security might have been worthwhile.
I really do despair at how utterly thick some people running this country really are.